depression and running

just force yourself to go for a run then you will feel better.

depression suddenly better.. since you have to force yourself more to do stuff when you're depressed maybe make a list of things you know makes you feel better but aren't bad for you then force yourself to do all of them until you're depression is cured! :)

Consistency is huge. In my experience, being productive, exercising, and being around others on a regular schedule makes everything a lot more bearable, even if it’s a huge struggle some days to do one or all of those things.

+1 After my Dr diagnosed me with depression and put me on meds he also insisted that I resume running since I had quit due to injury. I took about a year to be consistent again, but I haven't backed off since and the dep hasn't returned. Also get really busy at something and stay that way, math or languages etc.

I've had depression for as long as I can remember, formally diagnosed in college. It's very common, especially with the distance running crowd. The same mental intensity it takes to run as much and as hard as we do is a double-edged sword. My advice is that it's treatable, don't let your mind tell you it's not. Get on medication if you need it and you may need to try different types and dosing until you find what works for you. Whatever you do, get help. I've lost 2 friends to suicide in the last year who were very good runners.

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I've had depression for as long as I can remember, formally diagnosed in college. It's very common, especially with the distance running crowd. The same mental intensity it takes to run as much and as hard as we do is a double-edged sword. My advice is that it's treatable, don't let your mind tell you it's not. Get on medication if you need it and you may need to try different types and dosing until you find what works for you. Whatever you do, get help. I've lost 2 friends to suicide in the last year who were very good runners.

I'm sorry to hear about this. Condolences.

okaayy wrote:

just that been diagnosed a few months ago. and the last thing a want to do is run yet paradoxically running is when im at my most happiest

just wondering if anyone has advice/experience

One of the first things a therapist will ask is if you excersise. That, and if you drink, smoke, etc.

Excersise helps depression due to the release of endorphins. It’s one of the primary reasons I run. Don’t give up on running. Use it as a tool. Don’t give up :)

txRUNNERgirl wrote:

I've had depression for as long as I can remember, formally diagnosed in college. It's very common, especially with the distance running crowd. The same mental intensity it takes to run as much and as hard as we do is a double-edged sword. My advice is that it's treatable, don't let your mind tell you it's not. Get on medication if you need it and you may need to try different types and dosing until you find what works for you. Whatever you do, get help. I've lost 2 friends to suicide in the last year who were very good runners.

This.

When I feel down I actually run more, though not necessarily harder. I tell myself it's therapy at times like that and that being outside matters more than a new PR. I run outdoors. The sun- and wind-induced endorphins always eventually kick in and I've never regretted forcing myself to get out.

Lots of running friends are equally hard hitting professionals. Unless you're a sociopath, I think that the same drive that makes us obsessively competitive at life in general and makes us into runners goes hand in hand with being harder on ourselves than the average person is and can lead to depression. We chase the highs more than other people do, and so we hit the lows, too.

Any exercise certainly makes depressed people feel better. Running is maybe the most efficient. Sometimes though it very difficult to go running while depressed. It’s even difficult to get out of bed. So you gotta do it gradually by stages seeing each stage as a mission. If you can’t run, start walking and when you feel you can run then run.

Nevertheless running on its own without meds cannot cure depression. If it does, most likely it wasn’t really depression.